Today brings Terminator: Genisys to theaters, mashing up all sorts of elements from the previous films in the franchise into one big, convoluted mess of a time travel sci-fi adventure. (Though our own Peter Sciretta didn’t hate it.) But at the very least, the film does get people talking about what I think is the best film in the series, Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

While the newest film brings the liquid metal T-1000 model back into the fray, albeit in the form of Byung-hun Lee instead of Robert Patrick, this time the liquid effects of the regenerating Terminator are done digitally. But back in 1990, even though the film was a pioneer in digital effects, many gags had to be done practically by Stan Winston Studios. And we have a fantastic look back at how the Terminator 2 T-1000 special effects were created. Watch below! Read More »

We’ve seen almost nothing official from Terminator: Genisys at this point, but the new Terminator movie has two more siblings set to debut in 2017 and 2018. Paramount Pictures just set dates for two more Terminator sequels, inking a plan to put killer robots into theaters during three of the next four years. Read More »

James Cameron’s Terminator 2: Judgement Day is one of those movies we’ve all seen a million times. When it’s on television, its familiarity is like a warm blanket we can snuggle up in and can enjoy from any point. We even do other things while watching, without getting lost, because we know it so well.

In fact, we know it so well it’s probably lost some of its power. When we first saw the T-1000 emerge from flaming wreckage, or a Mack Truck fly off an overpass, they were eye-popping moments. Now, they’re very familiar. Unless, of course, they’re presented in new ways.

Maybe that means 3D, maybe that means seeing the film on the big screen the first time, or maybe it means the painstaking work of a YouTube team to recreate a scene from the film, nearly shot by shot, using Grand Theft Auto 5. Check out a Terminator 2 GTA chase below. Read More »

Few people like 3D more than James Cameron. The director of the two biggest films in the history of cinema has embraced it wholeheartedly in his new world of Avatar and recently converted the other smash hit, Titanic, for a 3D rerelease. But what about some of his other works, specifically, The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgement Day?

At the Los Angeles Times Hero Complex Film Festival this past weekend, Cameron was asked that exact question. He played coy, said there weren’t any plans, but had a very well-thought out reason for why Terminator 2: Judgement Day, at least, might get a 3D conversion in the future. Read his Terminator 2 3D quote below. Read More »

Earlier this year I received an e-mail from Mike Jutan, a Research & Development Engineer at George Lucas’ visual effects powerhouse Industrial Light & Magic, who was prepping his TED Talk. Despite having previously worked at Pixar, Mike was having trouble gaining clearance for a WALL-E image he had found on /Film. I was able to connect him with the right people, and he finally got the mouse house’s permission. Jutan’s TED Talk is about “The Power of Enthusiasm”. While the movie isn’t completely movie-centric, I think it’s worth sharing. Here is a brief description from Mike:

A large portion of the talk (begins around the 8 minute mark) is about the moment I first saw the friggin’ epic T-1000 effect in Terminator 2 as a 10 year old kid and I knew at that moment I HAD to do visual effects with my life. I talk a lot about my journey, from dream to little wins, internships at Pixar, and finally achieving my dream to work at ILM 15 years later.

I think in this cynical world, Mike’s message is important. Watch the TED Talk now embedded after the jump.Read More »

What’s the best use for post-converted 3D? If you’re James Cameron, the answer is obvious: it should be applied to bring established classic films into the 21st century. The director is planning a 3D conversion of his mega-hit Titanic to be released in 2012, on the centennial anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Asked about the conversion he has a few things to say, and suggested that another one of his films could get the 3D treatment. Read More »

Do you remember those Little Golden Books? They were a staple from my childhood. Pixar Animation Story Artist Josh Cooley (Cars, Ratatouille, Up, George & AJ) is working on an awesome “Lil’ Inappropriate Golden Book” titled Movies R Fun.

Cooley has been working on this compilation of movie art for two years and will be publishing the collection in a book which will be available at Comic-Con this year and APE Expo San Francisco in November. And don’t worry, the books and prints will also be available on Cooley’s Blog. High quality, “classy” prints will also be available as well.

Illustrations reference film classics such as The Professional, Terminator 2, Godfather, Goodfellas, Apocalypse Now, Se7en, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Graduate, Terminator, Silence of the Lambs, and The Big Lebowski. Check out some of the art embedded after the jump.